If ever a song captured what a young generation thought of the establishment in the 1960's it was through Jack
Bruce's "We're Going Wrong", his only self written song included on Cream's 'Disreali Gears' the rest being
penned by Pete Brown. Brown's influence must have been profound for Bruce with "We're Going Wrong" sitting
easily amongst Browns song and lyric style.
Like many songs Bruce's original intent was simple and direct, writing the lyrics after he'd argued with his wife the night before, but as the documentary excerpt below infers the statement had gained a symbolic meaning for a new generations view of a world.
It's often overlooked in a nostalgic view of the "Swinging 60's" the era was also accompanied by the ever present heavy cloud of possible instant annihilation by the Cold War nuclear threat for the entire decade and beyond.
This clip retrieved from a BBC documentary in the 1960's is a hidden gem performance by Cream with Bruce producing the high range (falsetto) vocal of the original album track which in later performances he lowered to produce more power from the mid range voice. An excellent example of that power comes as recently as 2005 with Cream's Reunion Concert performance of the song and to this day Bruce still includes the song as part of his own bands set.
Sadly the film clip doesn't play out the song to its last chord possibly because of a voice over or maybe just
because the tape ran out. Also the 1960's camera work is not exactly something to be desired with most of the
shots showing close ups of Bruce, Clapton and Baker. Social documentary's of this type often did forget they
were actaully musicians playing the stuff and get caught up in how they look rather than what they're actually doing.
The toff English BBC voice over of Patrick Allen (actor), at the beginning does not add to the artistry but it does represent a voice of the establishment in the 1960's viewing this new wild group of young men and the imposed serious statement the song had put to them.. "We're Going Wrong". Jack Bruce would probably have laughed at the misconception and irony.
But any production faults are purely insignificant when compared to the power and emotion of Bruce's voice and
the superb accompaniment by Clapton and Baker at the height of their psychedelic era in 1967. It was dangerous, unconventional and utterly compelling.
